Soil is connected to almost all aspects of our lives, yet we often take it for granted. To mark the International Day of Soil on December 5, we interviewed several project managers at the European Environment Agency (EEA) about this precious resource.

The most relevant of these objectives from a rural areas perspective are: - Objective 1, applying to regions which are lagging behind economically, with a GDP of less than 75% of the EU average; - Objective 5a providing support for downstream processing of agricultural produce as well as investment aid and compensatory allowances in less favoured areas; - Objective 5b, applying to rural areas with a low level of socio-economic development, high dependency on agricultural employment, low agricultural incomes and population problems (low density or declining population); - Objective 6, applying to regions north of the 62nd parallel with a very low population density (less than 8 inhabitants/sq

Signals takes us on a journey, following the course of water from the glaciers of the Alps to the permafrost of the Arctic and the delta of the Ganges. We travel to familiar and far-flung places, looking at how we can rebuild our relationships with the crucial elements of everyday life— water, soil, air — and the animals and plants that make up the tapestry of life on Earth.

Meeting European demands for food, water, energy and housing exerts major pressures on the environment, indirectly affecting human health and well-being. To reduce the impact of Europe's resource use, a new assessment from the European Environment Agency (EEA) reflects on integrating different policy areas and improved spatial planning.

Within the framework of the CAP, the last 50 years have seen increasing attention to biodiversity, but
without clear benefits so far. With agriculture covering about half of EU land area, Europe's biodiversity is linked inextricably to
agricultural practices, creating valuable agro-ecosystems across the whole of Europe.